Our MESA Student Spotlight features students who inspire our community through their academic commitment, leadership, and perseverance. These stories showcase the many paths our students take in STEM and the impact MESA has along the way.
Thao Mai
Thao is a third year Industrial Engineering major who will be transferring to Cal Poly Pomona in Fall 2026. Go Broncos! Her journey into STEM was driven by a desire to improve public health and create better products and systems for communities that deserve stronger support and quality of life. That purpose continues to guide her academic and professional goals.
She was drawn to Golden West College for its welcoming environment and quickly found community through MESA. At first unsure of what career path to pursue, it was through MESA events, conferences, and field trips that she discovered a direction that truly aligned with her interests. Over time, she grew more confident in her place within STEM. Through programs like Puente and EOPS, participating in NASA funded competitions, attending the Puente Math and Science Summer Academy at UC Berkeley, and serving as the founding Vice President of the MESA Club, Thao built both leadership skills and clarity about her future. She also worked in the Math and Science Division Office and now works with the Puente Program at GWC, continuing to give back to the community that supported her. Most recently, receiving her first college acceptance was a major milestone. In high school, she was not sure that opportunity would come, and now it stands as proof that she is building the future she once questioned.
One of Thao’s biggest challenges was navigating uncertainty. She changed her major several times before finding Industrial Engineering, learning that growth sometimes requires patience and exploration. That experience shaped the advice she now gives others: be diligent, stay curious, and do not give up even when you feel lost. Paths are rarely straight, and there is nothing wrong with changing direction if it brings you closer to what fits. Motivated by creating a stable future for herself and her loved ones, she is currently applying for summer internships and focused on finishing the semester strong before transferring. Outside of class, you can often find her studying in the MESA space or binging Disney and Pixar movies. Looking ahead, she hopes to continue supporting younger students in STEM, not only as a professional, but as a mentor who helps others explore and discover what is possible.
Nagham Almerie
Nagham (she/her) is a second-year Physics and Mathematics major whose love for STEM started long before college. Growing up in Jordan, science and math always made the most sense to her thanks to teachers who made physics exciting and a family that encouraged her curiosity. When she moved to the U.S. late in high school and chose GWC during a period of uncertainty, she didn’t expect to find a second home so quickly. MESA reminded her of the leadership roles she enjoyed such as Link Crew at Westminster High School and gave her a place full of people who think, dream, and work with the same drive she does.
She is the kind of student who genuinely enjoys learning whether it is physics, math, engineering, or anything that challenges her. Nagham hopes to earn a master's degree in physics or engineering (with a growing interest in mechanical & aerospace engineering) and is aiming for campuses such as UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC Irvine, or UC San Diego. She has been deeply involved during her time at Golden West College, participating in Puente, Aspire, MESA, serving as a tutor, peer mentor, MESA Club president, and taking part in programs such as the Future Leaders Initiative at UCI and NASA L’Space Academy. Balancing family responsibilities, heavy course loads, and extracurriculars takes real discipline, but her time management skills and determination help her stay "locked-in" each semester.
For Nagham, MESA has been a game changer. She has built meaningful friendships, found encouragement among other high achieving students, and even jokes that the MESA Office is her second office. A standout moment was the Great Minds in STEM San Diego conference, which shifted her thinking about transferring and showed her that she can thrive even far from home. With her outgoing energy and grounded outlook, her advice to new STEM students is simple: “Make sure you truly connect with what you study because passion is what carries you through the toughest challenges.”
